Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
RUE
‘What do you mean, the Witchfinder’s son is at the inn?’ I couldn’t help wondering how Jem would know.
‘My father saw him there last night. Walked in as bold as brass he did. All golden-haired and full of himself.’
I thought of the man’s hair and how different he must seem from the worn-out farm workers and villagers who frequented The Grey Lady. It wasn’t surprising they were shocked to see someone like him in their midst.
‘And he stayed the night, you say?’ My throat tightened as my concern increased. Why did he stay at the inn when his home wasn’t all that far away?
Jem nodded and took my hand. ‘Left for the church first thing this morning, so I’m told. Then went on his way from there and called in to a couple of farms. My father said he’s looking for you.’
His hold tightened slightly.
‘Me?’
Jem frowned. ‘That’s what my father said.’ He seemed to consider whether to add something.
‘Tell me.’
He shrugged. ‘The lad at the inn boasted that the Witchfinder’s assistant tipped him a whole penny for taking care of his horse.’ He narrowed his eyes. ‘No doubt he’s trying to buy villagers’ affection.’
‘What do you mean by that?’ I asked, wondering why I was the next person on Theo Le Cerf’s list.
‘Only that he has money to pay for information about you.’ I covered my mouth with my free hand. ‘Try not to worry too much, Rue. He won’t find anything on you, I’m sure of that.’
I didn’t know how he could be so adamant. ‘I wish I had your confidence.’
‘Look, forget I said anything.’ He shrugged. ‘At least we know he cares for his horse.’
‘I suppose so.’ I hoped this meant Theo wasn’t as unfeeling about others as his father.
Then again, I knew of other people who cared far more for their animals than for their wives or children, probably because they were worth more money.
So I supposed Theo’s tipping the boy could mean nothing.
I had to admit, though, that the penny was generous, and I was pleased for the boy, but I didn’t say as much.
‘What are we to do?’ I asked, concerned. ‘He’s never come this way before to my knowledge. Nor his father for that matter – not since my mother.’
I didn’t add anything further because we both knew what Elias Le Cerf’s presence meant to people like me, my grandmother and aunt.
Jem gave my hand another gentle squeeze. His mother had been a member of the coven before her death and he knew, as well as Pierre did, about the practices the women in my family undertook. ‘Let’s hope it stays that way.’
Something occurred to me. ‘Did you find out what he was looking for at the church? It might give us a clue about why he’s come this way.’
Jem averted his gaze. ‘I hadn’t thought to ask. I’ll go and do it straight away.’
‘Thank you.’ I hoped nothing would come of his second visit to the church.
To keep my mind busy and stop me thinking about why Theo Le Cerf was in our midst, I spent the rest of the morning harvesting herbs for my grandmother’s work.
Despite my best intentions, though, I couldn’t ignore the ominous feeling that seemed to envelop me like an unwanted cape.
I felt a strong sense of foreboding. Something was about to happen to change our lives in a big way.
I knew it, and hoped I was wrong, but my senses were always right about feelings like this, and not for the first time I wished I didn’t have this power of knowing when something dark was about to reach us.
It still haunted me that I had sensed when my uncle’s death and that of Jem’s mother, Maria, were about to occur.
In both cases, a feeling of impending doom had increased over several days until the night before each of their deaths, I had dreamt the person was standing in front of me, looking at me but not speaking.
My mother was behind their left shoulder and calmly told me she had come to accompany them on their journey to the other side and not to be sad for them.
I was steeping thyme in boiled water for tea.
I needed courage and often turned to this herb to help me find it within myself.
I was pouring some of the water into a cup when I heard Jem’s footsteps running across the yard towards the back door and spilt a little of the water, splashing my hand and scalding it.
I winced and thrust my hand into a bowl of cold water in which I had placed flowers picked from the garden earlier that morning.
Allowing my hand to dry naturally, I ran to greet him.
‘Did you find out why he’s here?’
He nodded and bent over, his hand raised to stop me asking anything further while he caught his breath.
I waited impatiently for him to gather himself, blowing on my hand to try and cool the stinging.
‘Sorry,’ he said righting himself.
‘Don’t worry. What did you find out?’ I saw something in his eyes. Nervousness maybe? I sensed Jem might be struggling for words. ‘Just tell me what you discovered about the church.’
He frowned. ‘He visited there to look at the records, I gather.’ He hesitated for a moment.
‘He was looking for the registration of marriage for a Rue Underwood.’ Before I could even make sense of his words, Jem took my hands in his.
I barely registered the pain where his thumb rested on my burn and struggled to keep my legs from giving away at the shock of what this revelation might mean.
‘Me?’ I asked, wanting to vomit. ‘But what have I done to deserve his attention?’ I racked my brains to think when I could have been seen doing anything he or his father might consider suspicious.
All the items I sold at the stall were considered medicinal or simply used for general care of one’s skin or emotions.
Surely no one could have complained about any of them? Could they?
I began to tremble. Jem immediately pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly against him. ‘Don’t panic, Rue. I promise I’ll keep you safe.’
Terrified, I pushed back and looked up at him. ‘You shouldn’t make promises you aren’t able to keep.’
He cast his eyes downwards and his arms dropped from around me. I had hurt his feelings. I hadn’t meant to. Needing to comfort him, I wrapped my arms around him and returned his hug.
‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to take my fright out on you.’ I felt his arms encircle me once again and calmed slightly to know that he would be there for me no matter what happened. ‘You’re my closest friend, and I trust you with all my heart.’
He frowned, seeming conflicted about something. He didn’t speak for a moment.
‘What is it, Jem?’ I noticed something in his eyes similar to what I had seen in Theo’s just before he had kissed me. Startled, I realised Jem had feelings for me that were more than just friendship. ‘Jem, I—’
He rubbed the back of his neck. ‘Don’t say it, Rue. I know there can be nothing romantic between us.’ He didn’t manage to mask the regret in his voice. ‘Your family might not have the wealth it once did, but you are still the daughter of a lord.’
I couldn’t think what to say but wanted to move on from the awkward topic.
He rolled his shoulders. ‘Did I tell you I’ve been courting a maid from a nearby farm?’
Barely able to hide my relief, I gasped. ‘You have?’
He smiled. ‘Her name is Beattie. Beattie Goodenough.’ He swallowed and became serious once more. ‘She will never be you, Rue, but I do like her.’
Unsure exactly how to react to such an admission, I pulled him into a hug. ‘I am pleased for you, Jem, and hope to meet her someday.’
‘You already might have done,’ he said. ‘I know she’s seen you at the market on several occasions because she’s mentioned you to me.’
Feeling calmer, I said, ‘Then please tell her to make herself known to me next time I’m there.’
We stood in an awkward silence until Jem spoke. ‘About the Le Cerf chap, we don’t know what he wants with you yet. Maybe…’
‘Maybe what?’ I asked, my voice shaky with fright. ‘He’s the Witchfinder’s son, Jem. There is only one thing he can possibly want with me. I think we both know that.’
I tried my best to think clearly but was too distraught to manage to do so.
‘We need to make a plan, Rue,’ he said eventually. When I didn’t answer, because I couldn’t think of anything useful to offer, he continued. ‘We’ll ask my father to speak with your grandmother and aunt. Tell them what we’ve discovered and hear their thoughts on the matter.’
It was a start and did give me a little courage. I stood back from him and forced a smile, aware he was also in shock at this unexpected news.
‘I think that’s a good idea. You fetch Pierre and my aunt from the cottages, and I’ll go and call for my grandmother. Let’s meet in the kitchen in a few minutes.’
He gave a quick nod and ran off to do as I’d asked.
I called out for my grandmother, but when she didn’t respond, as she sometimes didn’t, I went down to the spell room in case she was there.
Not finding her, I decided she might be in her room.
I stopped at the bottom of the staircase and stared up towards our bedroom doors, wishing I didn’t need to go up there yet.
Then, bracing myself, I ran up and, after looking from side to side down each corridor and doing my best to ignore the chill that trickled down my spine, I knocked on her door several times.
I heard grumbling first, then footsteps, and my grandmother opened the door. ‘What is it, Rue? I was in the middle of writing up some notes.’
I didn’t ask what they might be for, presuming it to be a new spell, and quickly explained what Jem had discovered.
Her face grew pale and she reached out to grab hold of the doorknob to steady herself.
I wished I’d been a little less abrupt. I hadn’t meant to frighten her and it was thoughtless of me not to expect her to react this way.
‘Sorry, Grandmama. I should have taken more care with my words.’
She rested her hand on my arm. ‘No,’ she said, her voice quieter than usual. ‘I understand.’
She waved for me to move back and, stepping onto the landing, closed the door behind her. ‘Let’s go down and see the others. We need to decide what we are to do about this.’
We walked to the kitchen in silence, each lost in our own thoughts.
Seeing my grandmother react in such a disturbing way mirrored my own reaction.
I was in terrible danger if this was how my family and friends were behaving.
My fear increased suddenly and for a moment I had to stand still and wait for light-headedness to leave me.
I forced myself to calm down. Somehow, I was certain my family would find a way to protect me.
Grandmama and Sorrel were witches, after all.
As was I. The thought helped me calm my panic.
If nothing else, we had the means to protect ourselves, although how much I wasn’t sure.
I needed to trust in our powers. What other choice did I have?
‘The first thing we must do is source our strongest protection spell,’ Grandmama insisted, once we had joined the others in the kitchen.
She pressed the tips of her fingers to her lips and frowned thoughtfully.
‘No, we need something different from what we already have about us. If we can find a blurring spell to help us hide you, Rue, then I believe that’s the safest thing to do.
If the Witchfinder’s son does come here he’ll need to find you to arrest you. ’
She had a point. I went to mark myself with my sigil. It would protect me and give me courage when I looked at it and thought of its meaning.
‘Then,’ Jem said as I left for the spell room, ‘we must all help hide Rue and keep him from locating her.’
I liked the idea, but it occurred to me that unfortunately Theo Le Cerf had been trained by the best. If anyone could track me down, it would be him or his father.